Biology 190: Welcome




BIO190: Welcome

Welcome to Animal Biology at Northern Arizona University!

To hear a short audio message from the professor, click one of the two links below.

RealAudio Clip 36k

LiveAudio 483k

If this is your first time in the class, you should:

Read the help page and get the required plug-ins.
Read and listen to the welcome from the instructor.
Read Getting Started & Course Requirements.

Throughout the world, education is being reborn under the influence of explosive growth of technological capabilities, the World Wide Web, and accessibility to near-instantaneous written communication through Email. We may now reach beyond the classroom to any student who possesses the desire to join us in the dynamic discoveries of modern life sciences. For the Department of Biological Sciences and those involved with development and coordination of its curriculum, the initiation of Web-based courses represents a great challenge:

How do we communicate:

the excitement of discovery?
our sense of dedication to the inseparably-linked acts of acquiring knowledge in field and laboratory and sharing it through writing and teaching?
and our desire to nurture and feed the curiosity we all, as students and teachers, feel about the Earth and the living things it supports?

The fundamental beliefs held by members of the Department reside in our Mission Statement and Governing Values, evolved through many hours of discussion, evaluation and revision spanning more than a year. We ask that you read these statements, for three specific reasons:

they will begin to clarify for you the expectations we have of ourselves and our students;
you may begin to feel the true heart of the Department, with its dedication to the highest standards of education, learning, and both personal and professional enrichment;
perhaps most significant, we ask you to accept and embrace these principles, for in joining our Department you have truly become a member of our community, complete with the opportunity and responsibility to help us build a better future.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Biological Sciences of Northern Arizona University is to excel in building scientific literacy for all citizens, advancing and applying biological knowledge, and educating our students for professions in the life sciences.

Our Governing Values

The Department of Biological Sciences:

values a learning environment that encourages self-reliance, intellectual challenge, and mutually high academic expectations of faculty and students.

believes in high standards of professionalism for faculty, staff, and students.

believes that scientific literacy is essential for all citizens.

believes that the remarkably diverse physical, biological, and cultural resources of the region uniquely enrich our teaching, research, and service.

values the academic freedom to define the department's goals.

believes that the effective implementation of the department's goals requires cooperation and mutual respect among all members of the academic community.

values an integrative and interdisciplinary approach to all aspects of biology.

believes that an active faculty research program enhances the undergraduate educational program and is essential for graduate education.

values and encourages the involvement of undergraduate students in original research.

believes that an emphasis on lab and field studies offers an essential and unique educational and research experience.

values cultural diversity within the Department of Biological Sciences, among faculty, staff, and students.

Throughout the coming semester, you will deal with a tremendous array of principles and facts. Faculty, the Course Coordinator, Teaching Assistants, texts and this Web Page share a single objective: to help you acquire knowledge about and understand the foundations of modern animal biology. Nonetheless, you bear a responsibility to learn with us to the best of your ability.

Please remember: Faculty, Coordinators and TA's have all "been there;" we have successfully survived the trials and difficulties and opportunities of undergraduate (and graduate) education, and we understand that we cannot meet our objective if factors beyond your control interfere with your performance. Part of our responsibility to you is to help you destroy barriers to what you wish to accomplish. Please talk to us as soon as any barrier appears.

Finally, this Web page has been developed with two primary goals in mind:

to allow students beyond the boundaries of our campus to complete the lecture component of the Animal Biology (BIO 190) course;
to enrich the learning environment for students on campus as well as those studying elsewhere.

Because of these two intersecting goals, this Web page contains information which pertains to both groups of students simultaneously and to each group independently.

Once again, Welcome! We hope that your experience with this course and other phases of your NAU career will be rich, challenging and rewarding.

Please read these other documents about Animal Biology before you begin any course work.

For Whom Is Animal Biology Intended?

The Conceptual Approach to Animal Biology Laboratory

Who are those Faculty and TA's?

After you've read these three documents, read the Syllabus.

E-mail the professor W. Sylvester Allred at Syl.Allred@NAU.EDU, or call (520)523-7214